Finance Accounting Manager

Cleared Recruitment; Canberra; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Cleared Recruitment is seeking a Finance & Accounting Operations Deputy Manager in Canberra to lead day-to-day financial operations, reporting, compliance, treasury and team leadership in a complex, highly regulated environment.

You will partner with senior stakeholders, auditors and agencies to maintain strong controls, accurate reporting and robust finance processes while guiding a small, high-performing team.

Qualifications

• Baseline security clearance or ability to obtain and maintain one.
• Australian Citizenship and eligibility to obtain a Defence security clearance.
• CA, CPA or equivalent accounting qualification.
• 5+ years' experience in a similar finance/accounting operations role.
• Experience leading or supervising a finance or accounting team.
• Strong organisational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities.
• A proactive approach to identifying improvements across finance processes and systems.
• The ability to work collaboratively while also taking ownership and driving outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Support the Finance & Accounting Operations Manager in overseeing the day-to-day activities of the Finance & Accounting Operations function.
• Oversee Accounts Payable activities, ensuring weekly payment runs are completed accurately and supplier issues are resolved promptly.
• Prepare and coordinate regular financial and management reporting, including Board and shareholder reporting, financial statements, statutory reporting and banking compliance.
• Coordinate the annual external audit, including preparation of supporting documentation and liaison with auditors.
• Manage the preparation and submission of relevant tax and regulatory returns, including BAS, FBT, income tax and R&D-related submissions.
• Support treasury activities, including cash management and management of foreign exchange and interest rate exposure.
• Develop and improve financial policies, processes and internal controls.
• Work closely with Financial Planning & Analysis teams on budgeting, forecasting and financial reporting requirements.
• Investigate and analyse financial information and provide clear, concise financial commentary and recommendations.
• Identify opportunities for process and system improvements across the finance function.
• Supervise, mentor and support Accounts Payable Officers and Accounts Clerks.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with senior executives, internal stakeholders, auditors, advisers, financial service providers and relevant Commonwealth agencies.
• Support additional accounting, reporting and finance initiatives as required.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Financial controls

Regulatory compliance

Auditing experience

Education

CA/CPA or equivalent

Job description

Finance & Accounting Operations Deputy Manager

Clearance: Baseline security clearance

Employment: Full-Time, Permanent

About the Opportunity

Cleared Recruitment is supporting the search for an experienced Finance & Accounting Operations Deputy Manager to join a complex and highly regulated organisation in Canberra.

This is a senior finance operations opportunity supporting the Finance & Accounting Operations Manager across day-to-day financial operations, reporting, compliance, treasury and team leadership.

The role will suit an experienced finance professional who enjoys working across both hands-on financial operations and broader financial management, with the ability to work closely with senior stakeholders, auditors, advisers and Commonwealth agencies.

You will play an important role in maintaining strong financial controls, accurate reporting and effective finance processes while supporting a small, high-performing finance team.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the Finance & Accounting Operations Manager in overseeing the day-to-day activities of the Finance & Accounting Operations function.
• Oversee Accounts Payable activities, ensuring weekly payment runs are completed accurately and supplier issues are resolved promptly.
• Prepare and coordinate regular financial and management reporting, including Board and shareholder reporting, financial statements, statutory reporting and banking compliance.
• Coordinate the annual external audit, including preparation of supporting documentation and liaison with auditors.
• Manage the preparation and submission of relevant tax and regulatory returns, including BAS, FBT, income tax and R&D-related submissions.
• Support treasury activities, including cash management and management of foreign exchange and interest rate exposure.
• Develop and improve financial policies, processes and internal controls.
• Work closely with Financial Planning & Analysis teams on budgeting, forecasting and financial reporting requirements.
• Investigate and analyse financial information and provide clear, concise financial commentary and recommendations.
• Identify opportunities for process and system improvements across the finance function.
• Supervise, mentor and support Accounts Payable Officers and Accounts Clerks.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with senior executives, internal stakeholders, auditors, advisers, financial service providers and relevant Commonwealth agencies.
• Support additional accounting, reporting and finance initiatives as required.

About You

We are looking for an experienced finance and accounting professional who can combine strong technical capability with leadership, stakeholder management and commercial judgement.

You will ideally have:

• Baseline security clearance or the ability to obtain and maintain one.
• Australian Citizenship and eligibility to obtain a Defence security clearance.
• CA, CPA or equivalent accounting qualification.
• 5+ years' experience in a similar finance/accounting operations role.
• Experience leading or supervising a finance or accounting team.
• Strong organisational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities.
• A proactive approach to identifying improvements across finance processes and systems.
• The ability to work collaboratively while also taking ownership and driving outcomes.

Why This Opportunity?

This is a great opportunity for an experienced finance professional looking to step into a senior finance operations leadership position within a complex and highly regulated environment.

You will have broad exposure across financial operations, reporting, taxation, audit, treasury, governance and team leadership, while working closely with senior stakeholders across the organisation.

At Cleared Recruitment, we provide tailored recruitment solutions to individuals with a background in ICT, Engineering, Cyber and Project Services, who are seeking their next opportunity within Defence Industry, Federal Government, Intelligence and National Security.